DE legalization bills advance; Record MI marijuana sales; CO psychedelics sigs for ballot; MO medical cannabis biz disclosure amendment
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The Delaware Senate Judiciary Committee approved a House-passed bill to legalize marijuana possession. Meanwhile, separate legislation to regulate cannabis sales is heading to the House floor following its second committee approval.
Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter asking federal health agencies to report on the state of psychedelic research—including identifying regulatory barriers to science on the benefits of psilocybin and other substances.
Colorado activists are petitioning to put competing psychedelics legalization initiatives on the November ballot—with one campaign telling Marijuana Moment it already has roughly 40 percent of the signatures it needs to qualify.
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency reported that retailers broke a marijuana sales record in April, selling nearly $195 million worth of legal cannabis products—even as average prices are down significantly from a year ago.
The Missouri House of Representatives voted to require regulators to stop shielding ownership information about medical cannabis businesses.
Delaware Gov. John Carney (D)—who opposes legalizing marijuana— and members of the state’s congressional delegation are condemning a drug search that Georgia police conducted on the Delaware State University women’s lacrosse team’s bus.
/ FEDERAL
President Joe Biden nominated new members of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
A federal judge denied a Maine man’s request to use medical cannabis while on bail for an alleged illegal marijuana growing operation and money laundering scheme.
Food and Drug Administration scientists will participate in a webinar on cannabis quality standards on May 26.
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram said the U.S. wants China to “do more” to crack down on fentanyl.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) tweeted, “The #SAFEBankingAct has broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. It hits the Goldilocks sweet spot. Let’s get it passed.”
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) tweeted, “The SAFE Banking Act would help address public safety & compliance issues by moving large amounts of cash in the cannabis industry into the banking system, helping to reduce cash-motivated crimes. I urge the Senate to pass the America COMPETES Act with this crucial bill included.”
/ STATES
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill to make the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority an independent state agency.
New Jersey’s Senate president tweeted about a marijuana oversight hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Vermont lawmakers sent Gov. Phil Scott (R) a bill that maintains marijuana potency limits.
The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill to disallow police from using the smell of marijuana as a pretext for warrantless searches of homes.
The Colorado House of Representatives declined to concur with the Senate’s changes to a bill refelonizing fentanyl possession, instead sending the measure to a conference committee.
The Missouri House Democratic Caucus tweeted, “If we truly believe in free market principles, then we should remove arbitrary caps on our medical cannabis industry. And #moleg should have full transparency over how cannabis licenses are granted to root out any pay-for-play schemes happening in the Show-Me State.” Separately, the Senate General Laws Committee approved a bill to decriminalize needle exchange programs.
A North Dakota marijuana legalization campaign has raised more than $500,000, largely from national advocacy groups and medical cannabis dispensaries in the state.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled in a DUI case that marijuana is still a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Washington State regulators withdrew proposed marijuana social equity rules.
Arizona regulators published an overview of their marijuana social equity business license award process.
Michigan regulators posted a monthly marijuana business disciplinary action report.
Iowa regulators published a report on the medical cannabidiol program.
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
Cleveland, Ohio officials are planning to file motions to expunge marijuana convictions this week.
Detroit, Michigan is being sued by medical cannabis businesses that want to be eligible to receive recreational marijuana licenses.
Wilmington, Vermont voters again approved allowing marijuana sales.
The Amherst, Massachusetts Town Council is considering a psychedelics decriminalization measure.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa spoke about the construction of a medical cannabis processing facility.
Trinidad and Tobago’s health minister expressed concerns about medical cannabis.
New Zealand members of Parliament authored op-eds on whether the country should hold another marijuana referendum.
Ontario, Canada police are investigating a data breach involving sales information from the province’s marijuana stores.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study of pregnant women found “found no difference in the prevalence of cannabis use in our sample after legalization.”
A review concluded that “it is possible to infer safety in the administration of cannabis-based products for the treatment of dogs, especially products rich in cannabidiol (CBD), free or with low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol” and that “CBD products potentially promote improved quality of life and reduce pain perception in animals affected by canine osteoarthritis.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “This is why @INDems like @gomcdermott want to legalize cannabis – because it’ll save lives. Cannabis is a common sense, kitchen-table issue that the @indgop has ignored for years. They care about partisanship – not a better future for Indiana.”
/ BUSINESS
MedMen Enterprises Inc and Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. signed a term sheet on the latter company’s acquisition of the former firm’s New York assets that will end a lawsuit on the matter and allow the translation to move forward.
Columbia Care Inc. is facing a shareholder lawsuit seeking to block its acquisition by Cresco Labs.
A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Aphria Inc. vacated his previous order certifying class status for investors who are suing the company.
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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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